Chico Archives - California Genealogy

Biography of John Wynkoop Gilkyson, Jr. of San Francisco

John Wynkoop Gilkyson, born February 5, 1875, in Chico, Butte County, California, was the son of John W. and Ruth (Hobart) Gilkyson. His maternal lineage traces back to Edmund Hobart, who arrived in America in 1633. John W. Gilkyson, a Pennsylvania native, moved to California in 1850, engaging in mining and later holding various public offices. John Wynkoop Gilkyson pursued education in Butte County and San Francisco, starting his career with the Pacific Bell Telephone Company at age twelve. By 1901, he became the county manager for the Pacific States Telephone Company in San Jose. Married to Hattie W. Tennis, he was active in the Native Sons of the Golden West, Knights of Pythias, and the Elks.

Biography of Tirey Lafayette Ford of San Francisco

Tirey Lafayette Ford, born December 29, 1857, in Monroe County, Missouri, served as general counsel for the United Railroads of San Francisco, distinguishing himself as a prominent lawyer in California. His legal career began after he passed the bar in 1882, with initial practice in Oroville and later in Downieville. Ford held several public offices, including district attorney of Sierra County and California state senator. In 1898, he was elected attorney general of California but resigned in 1902 to join the United Railroads. He married Emma Byington in 1888, and they had three children. Ford was active in numerous fraternal and social organizations.

Records of Bidwell Chapel Funeral Home, 1896-1992

Bidwell Chapel Funeral Home when it was called the Hall - Van Hook Funeral Home

The Bidwell Chapel Funeral Home records (1896-1992) consist of microfilm records from the Chico, California-based funeral home, which has experienced numerous name and ownership changes since its establishment. The collection includes funeral registers, death records, and funeral information files that detail the deceased’s personal information, death and burial arrangements, and documents related to individual accounts, such as orders for death certificates, insurance letters, and newspaper clippings of death notices or obituaries.

Biography of Joseph Spencer Sparks of Merced County

1925 History of Merced County - title page

One of the early settlers who became a successful stock-raiser on the West Side in Merced County was Joseph S. Sparks. He was born in Kentucky, May 12, 1830, a son of Madison Sparks, a Virginian, who had married Winnie Thomas, who bore eight children, Joseph S. Sparks being the third in order of birth. He was able to get a fair education in the local schools and remained in his native county until he was of age. He had heard of the discovery of gold in California and it so fired his enthusiasm that he decided he would cast … Read more